Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-10

1
Mr.. F. Eaton was sworn and testified
@. By Mr.. Wright. Did you submi
the amended specifications to the Bridg,
Committee
A. Yes, sir. Mr.. Willard was salts
fled with them, and SO was Mr.. Lambie
@. Was not the reduction made by
the taking off of two piles more thar
covered by the other changes made?
A. Yes, sir. We concluded that the
cost of the changes made would be at
least $3.50 greater than the reduction
made by the taking eff of two piles.
@. By the City Attorney. Did you
know that the original was on file?
A. Yes, sir.
@. Did you ever apply to have the
original changed!
A. No. sir.
@. Were the contracts supposed to
be let by the plans in your office or the
original on file?
A. They were supposed to be let on
the one on file in the office.
Q. You never made any application
to have the original changed?
A. No, sir.
O. The contract was lei on the one in
your office?
A. Yes, sir. The one in my office
was an amendment ON which the con.
tract was awarded.
Mr.. Jones; l think that the Bridge
Company and the City Surveyor are in the
habit of altering specifications frequent
ly, before the contracts are awarded. Is
that not fact, Mr.. Eaton.
A. Yes, sir.
Mr.. Teed was recalled and said that
there was q resolution of the Council
that all specifications must be read in
the Council and adopted. These amend.
ments were never read.
Mr.. Eaton: That was not my fault.
Mr.. U. Embody, being sworn, said
that he was the cashier of the new bank
at East Los Angeles. II toek subscrip.
tions for the Kuhrts street bridge. Mr..
McMullin never collected any money or
took subscriptions for the Kuhrts street
bridge. I me. him often and he urged
me to not delay IN getting the subscrip-
tions. He said if the contract was not
awarded on that day he couldn't wait
but would have to go to San Francisco.
He did not say anything about the profit
I talked to Mr.. Cats about the bridge.
He told me about what the bridge woul
cost. He said the lowest bid would be
about SO much, but did not mention the
company. He said 1T would be about
SIG, 600. The bid of the company to
which he belor ged was $4,000"
Mayor Workman: That shows he
knew what the other companies were
going to bid?
A. He did not say so in SO many
words.
Mr.. McMullin was then sworn. He
said there was something more impor.
tant than the contract. He did not care
to get the contract. 1t had been asserted
that the San Francisco Bridge Company
came to Los Angeles and lut up job;
in other words, that they put up job
to rob the city. "The only way to clear
ourselves is to show that there is no
smut on our name, but we obtained the
job by fair competition"
He then read an extract or card sent
to the papers by Mr.. Stearns and pub
lished over his name.
MIR. McMullin said it was an easy
matter to bring these charges. Some
members had an idea that there were
two different sets of specifications. How
could that be, when one is the report OF
the Bridge Committee. They have tried
! to represent that there were two specif.
cations and that the engineer was in ca
hoots with us. Let us be fair. The
matter is plain. In regard to the other
estimates, they were simply hastily pre-
pared figures and were based On sucl
bridges as the Also street bridge. Mr.
Cats had been offered situation by the
San Francisco Bridge Co, but he said he
had some unfinished business which he
had to attend to and after that he would
accept. He put in bid for the King
Bridge Company, but when he found il
was too high he turned around and
| worked for the San Francisco Bridge Co.
The only thing he would offer would be
his own testimony, which would be the
same as that of Geo. w. Cats, whose
deposition he asked might be read. So
ordered.
The deposition was then partially
read. Mr.. Williams objected to the
reading, because it related to the
charges against MIR. Stearns. Mr.. Breed
thought that if it related to the Kuhrts
street bridge it should be read.
MI. McMullin said that he would have
brought Mr.. Cats here, and in other
proceedings to be heard hereafter, he
would have him as well as several others.
The City Attorney having read the
document said it did not relate to the
present investigation, as it was charge
of bribery against Mr.. Stearns.
Mr.. McMullin then said that if the
committee would not have the deposi.
ton the HERALD could have 1t.
Witness testified that Mr.. Stearns Of
fered to sell him lumber for the Buena
Vista street bridge. He wanted Sc or
81 per 1000 more than anybody else.
He said he could help me, and eaid he
couldn't sell lumber and not make some-
thing.
@. By Mr.. Stearns: Did you ever
speak to me in your life before the con-
tract was let, any more than to shake
hands?
A, Yes sir. You offered your services
to me.
n. What did you tell me you could
buy the lumber for? !,
A. I think $22.50 and you wanted
1927 so.
MIR. Stearns. This is a mistake.
You talked to Mr.. Russ.
Mr.. McMullin. No Sir.
In relation to the KuhrIs Street
bridge Mr.. McMullin said was walking
along the street and I saw Mr.. Stearns,
said to him "whats the matter with
you Mr.. stearns. He said 'Mack I'm
not going to let you off with SO much
unless you divide" (sensationl. | told
him he could have the lumber but I said
s.you can't have it for more than it is
worth" ;,
Mr.. Stearns: Turning red in the
face aud bringing his hands together.
"God forgive any man who could have
the cheek to face me in this"
Mr.. McMullin. "Well I've
GOT the cheek and the
sand, don't bluff worth nickel. 1
tell the truth under any circumstances.
7 ga Aln,;uhfu haa slammed his